Steam helmet



Oct. M, 1958 w. H. BRASKAMP 2,855,939

STEAM HELMET Filed Oct. 24, 1956 ,STEAM HELMET Willem Brask amp,Vorhurg,l letherlands, asslgnor to N. V. Industrile Onderneming W. H.Braskamp, Voorburg, Netherlands;la corporation "of' the Netherlands I II j Application October 24, 1956, Serial No. 618,088

Claims priority, application Netherlands August 6, 1956 Claims. (Cl.132-9) The invention relates to a steam helmet for the treatment of thehair in hair-dressing establishments, said helmet serving to soften thehair during a treatment such as perming and dyeing, and consisting of abell-shaped body which near the lower rim comprises a bent andperforated pipe for steam supply. Steam helmets of this kind aregenerally known, but the results attained with them are not verysatisfactory, and it-has been found that this is due to the fact thatthe vapour of extremely fine droplets rising in the helmet does notpenetrate into the hair of the person to be treated, but passes closealong the wall of the helmet where it condenses. This results in thatthe vapour practically fails to penetrate into the hair all over theheads surface.

Attempts have been made to eliminate this drawback by means ofpartitions in the helmet, but the result was that the vapour condensedagainst the partitions, whilebeyond the partitions it diverged from thehair again and condensed against the helmet.

An object of the invention is the provision of a steam helmet in whichthis drawback has been obviated in a simple manner. According to theinvention this end is attained by the provision in the helmet of one ormore air supply openings, which are connected with a fan. This fan needhave only a small capacity, since the air supplied to the helmet servesexclusively to cause a whirling motion of the vapour rising in it, sothat this vapour is detached from the wall of the helmet and owing tothe whirling motion penetrates into the hair all over the heads surfaceand softens the hair, which is necessary for the treatment to beapplied.

Further such a steam helmet is preferably also characterized in thatwhen the air enters the steam helmet, the air supply meets with adeflecting member, which deflects this air in a direction approximatelyparallel to the inner wall of the helmet. Thus the air is prevented fromexercising an adverse secondary action on the hair, while this air willconsequently have the greatest possible elfect in causing the whirlingmotion of the vapour.

This deflecting member is adapted to cause the air to flow oil in thehelmet only in some of the possible directions if in a part of thehelmet, on account of the general direction of flow of the vapour, nowhirling air is needed.

The deflecting member preferably forms part of a movable valve, whichmay be flexible and along part of its circumference may be firmlysecured to the helmet so as to prevent the passage of the air, while oneor more other parts of the valve may be adjustable in position with aview to increasing or decreasing the local passage of the air. Thus theair supply can be controlled completely, while it is also possible toadmit more air in one direction than in another. The construction ispreferably such that more than one part of the valve can beindependently adjusted.

According to the invention the air supply opening is further preferablyprovided in the upper part of the. helmet, the deflecting member or thevalve directing the air exclusively along part of the rear wall alongpart of the two side walls ofthe helmet. This small air; supply issuflicient-to bring about the; desired whirlingv motion withoutobstructing the normal rising motion of: the vapour, which vapournormally rises from the rear and the sides, andcan escape near the frontrim.

The invention will W 'b6 elucidated more in detail withreference tothedrawing,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical, crossesection through the,

steam helmet according to'the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates the valve with air openings.

The helmet 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a lower rim 2 constructed to serve as acollecting channel for condensed water, which contains a pipe 3 withperforations 4, said pipe passing inside the rim along approximatelyhalf the circumference of the helmets rim and being connected with asteam supply pipe 5. Through the perforations the vapour rises, e. g. asindicated by the arrow 6. In the upper part of the helmet, an air supply7 has been provided, through which cold air is fed into the helmet bymeans of the fan 8, preferably in a direction parallel to the inner wall15 of the helmet. In the mouth of the air supply conduit is fitted avalve 9, which can be adjusted by means of two screwthreaded rods 10 andaccessory handwheels 11 each supported on air supply 7 by a supportingmember 16. This valve permanently shuts off the air supply in front atsection 12 and, as appears from Fig. 2, at the rear section 17 and onthe two side sections 18 and 19 has openings 13, of which only therearmost one is visible in Fig. 1. These openings are formed by recessedparts 20 in the valve body, which consists, for example, of a metal discfunctioning as a deflecting member or adjustable plate. By the operationof the handwheels 11, the size of the openings 13, which admit air tothe sides, is controlled, as desired: in the same or in oppositedirections, and quite independently of each other. In this way it ispossible, even during the treatment, to alter the flow of air inaccordance with the shape of the hair (type of the hair or hairdress)and the stage of the treatment. When the side openings are adjusted, therear opening 13 will be adjusted at the same time.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical illustration of the air openings of the valve9, through which therefore in three directions a current of air flowsdown along the inner wall of the helmet and imparts a whirling motion tothe rising vapour. The location of the controlling rods 10 is clearlyshown.

When the invention is applied with the air supply opening providedinside the top of the helmet, it is possible to fit the pipe 3 all roundin the rim of the helmet. This presents the great advantage that thehair is treated more uniformly all over the heads surface.

As to the particular construction of the helmet itself, it is seen thatrim 2 can be engaged by bolts 21 on a flange 22, a gasket 23 beingemployed to provide a steamtight fitting. Perforated pipe 3 is supportedon flange 22 by a bracket 24.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modificationsand variations of the structure set forth. These modifications andvariations will not, however, depart from the spirit of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A steam helmet for the treatment of hair comprising a bell-shapedbody defining an opening for accommodating the head of the person to betreated, a rim portion on said body defining a channel at said opening,a perforated pipe operatively associated with said body adjacent saidchannel for the supply of steam, said body including a top portiondefining an air supply opening, and a deflecting member operativelyassociated with said body Patented Oct. 14, 1958 awman-1 4. securedto*said -body and'a'plurality of portionsadiustable in position fordefining variable air passages.

5. A helmet as claimed ih claim 4 comprising means for independentlyadjusting the portions which are adjustable. 1

